"Hinoki proves that BBQ doesn’t have to follow any rules to be excellent. The Japanese BBQ at this summertime-only food truck next to Saint Bread in the University District stands out from the city’s many hot links and brisket slices. Instead of brown sugar and artificial hickory flavoring, smoked-and-charred chicken thigh gets basted in tangy yum-yum sauce. Miso-caramelized pork belly nuggets have a perfect cure, and umeboshi-spiked BBQ sauce glazes turkey tsukune like a salty plum blanket. Round out an order with sides like fried squash blossoms or togarashi-topped street corn and sit on their laidback gravel patio that feels like one big cookout." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley
"From the upper-level parking lot, it's tough to see the previously nondescript gravel patch below it—but this food truck parked next to Saint Bread is a summer destination. It’s particularly great for a lazy early dinner or evening cocktail hang, as sweet vermouth spritzes flow from the Heave Ho window and Japanese snacks fly out of the truck on newspaper-lined trays. Among the lineup of small plates and bowls, they make exemplary chicken karaage and a bowl of bacon candy that you can just go ahead and bury us in." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley, gabe guarente
"Speaking of Saint Bread, the previously nondescript gravel patch next to it is now a summer destination, thanks to a truck called Hinoki. Operating from 4-8pm, it’s particularly great for a lazy early dinner or evening cocktail hang. Sweet vermouth spritzes flow from the Heave Ho window and Japanese snacks fly out of the truck on newspaper-lined trays as people trickle in. And while it’s hard to get a distinct view of the marina, sometimes simply being adjacent to water is good enough. Equipped with a fryer, wood-fired oven, and a Traeger, Hinoki means business. Among the lineup of small plates and bowls, they make exemplary chicken karaage, roasted maitakes that taste richer than filet mignon, and a bowl of bacon candy that you can just go ahead and bury us in." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley
"The previously nondescript gravel patch next to Saint Bread is a summer-only destination, called Hinoki. During the warmer months, this truck is particularly great for a lazy early dinner or evening cocktail hang. Sweet vermouth spritzes flow from the Heave Ho window and Japanese snacks fly out of the truck on newspaper-lined trays as people trickle in. Equipped with a fryer, wood-fired oven, and a Traeger, Hinoki means business. Among the lineup of small plates and bowls, they make exemplary chicken karaage, roasted maitakes that taste richer than filet mignon, and a bowl of bacon candy that you can just go ahead and bury us in." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley
"Equipped with a fryer, wood-fired oven, and a Traeger, this Japanese BBQ truck next to Saint Bread could theoretically prepare as many dishes as there are types of Pokémon. Even boring old chicken gets to have multiple evolutions—sometimes it's fried and served as crackly karaage that shatters when you bite into it. Sometimes it's smoked and basted in yum-yum sauce. Part of the fun is that you'll never know what meats and sides you're going to get, but it all consistently hits. And while their secret patio may just be a patch of gravel, the food, drinks, and proximity to water make it an ideal summer destination." - kayla sager riley, aimee rizzo, gabe guarente